Vehicle lift attachment



Feb. 6, 1962 Filed Aug. 7. 1959 ATTORNEY 3,019,858 VEHIQLE LIFT ATTACEHVHENT Harold E. 015011, 135 N. 3rd Ave, flairdale, Calif. Filed Aug. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 832,367 Claims. (Cl. 187-8175) The invention relates to attachments for adapting a usual vehicle lift head of fixed operative size for the lifted support thereon of vehicles of different structural types and dimensions.

Noting that present vehicle lifts of the ram and other types usually comprise permanent installations having vehicle-engaging heads of fixed size, and that motor vehicles now in common use vary in body sizes between midget automobiles and large-capacity vans, whereby present lift structures are generally not adapted for universal utility with all vehicles in the present range of vehicle types and sizes, a general object of the present invention is to provide such existing lifts with unitary attachments for adapting them for their substantially universal use with various vehicles.

Another object is to provide lift attachments of the character described providing relatively adjustable vehicleengaging pillow blocks which are so carried on a usual lift head that they may be adjusted to supportingly engage available and/or preferred chassis points of mutually different vehicles from below.

A further object is to provide a lift attachment unit of the character described whereof a vehicle-engaging pillow block of one-piece structure is rectilinesrly adjustable along a unitary base element which is directly carried on and across a lift-head rail in fixed angular relation thereto and for its rectilinear adjustment longitudinally along the rail for a retained disposal of the pillow block at an application point thereof.

An added object is to provide a lift attachment of the character described in which the base element is positively braced from a carrying lift rail by a means provided entirely by the element.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a cooperative pair of the attachment units of my invention mounted on the head of a vehicle lift and having pillow blocks of the units operatively applied.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pillow block of a present attachment operatively engaging a cross-member of a vehicle chassis.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a pillow block of the attachment which is higher than those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the lift attachment of my invention as applied to a supporting beam of the lift structure of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an underneath View of the base member of the attachment.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken at the line 6-6 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 isa sectional view taken at the line 77 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of the attachment as viewed from the right side of FIGURE 4.

For illustrating the application and use of the unitary lift attachments 9 embodying my invention, two like said units are particularly shown in FIGURE 1 as applied to horizontally disposed and laterally spaced beams B intermediately connected by a member C to provide a lift head which is fixedly carried at the top of a support post A.

3,919,858 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 The plate C generally comprises a box beam or the like connecting the beams B in fixed relation thereto to pro vide a rigid and unitary head structure. The vertical disposition of the post A may be controlled by a suitable hydraulic or mechanical means, and said post may, for instance, comprise the piston (or ram) of a hydraulic lift of a type frequently used in the vehicle-lift art.

The present lift attachments 9 are designed to be variably and independently positioned on and with respect to the head beams B, and said beams are preferably of uniform cross-section in a usual relatively rigid lift head combination BOl3 comprising the laterally spaced and integrally related beams B and the connecting member C. As particularly shown, the pair of like-sectioned I- beam B have their upper and lower flange portions F4 and F-Z respectively disposed in horizontal common planes and connected by webs W, and are arranged to directly carry attachments 9 for supportedly engaging a vehicle at spaced points thereof.

Referring generally to the structure of a present liftattachment unit 9, it will be noted that the same essentially comprises a base element 11 arranged for its mounted support directly upon and across a beam B for its adjustable positioning longitudinally of the beam and unitarily and adjustably mounting a vehicle-engaging pillow-block element 12 for the adjustment of the supported block laterally of the supporting beam B. More specifically, the base element 11 comprises a flat elongated base-plate portion 13 which is generally rectangular in plan, has a length which appreciably exceeds the width of an upper beam flange F1 to provide for a possible loading of the element more-or-less laterally of the beam and is arranged for its direct mounted disposal on and across the fiat upper face of the supporting beam flange F-1 in adjustably fixed position along the beam while it is positively held by the beam against an appreciable tilting thereof about the longitudinal line of the beam when supporting a load at a point laterally of the beam.

As particularly shown, an end extension 14 of the base plate portion 13 is turned downwardly of and under the flat remaining plate portion 15 in a return-bend formation whereby it defines with and beneath the latter plate portion a groove 16 which is arranged to closely and slidably receive an edge portion of an upper flange F-l of a mounting beam B in hooked-on relation thereto, While the base plate 15 portion is disposed upon and extends beyond the engaged mounting beam flange. The hook-forming extension 14 of the base plate 13 is preferably provided intermediately thereof with a notch 17 so extending from the inner end edge of the extension and into the flat base-plate portion 15 that a gap is provided intermediately of the groove bottom and a spaced two-point engagement of the received flange edge portion with the groove bottom is assured for preventing a rocking of the element 11 in its plane in case the groove bottom is engaged by a flange edge portion which is longitudinally bowed outwardly thereat.

Noting that the length of the base plate portion 15 is appreciably greater than the width of an engaged upper beam flange 1- -1, whereby to provide for the possible functioning of a hooked-on base element 11 as a cantilever support for a load on a block 12 engaging a load disposed at a working point laterally of the mounting beam flange F-l to then urge a torsional twisting of the flange about a longitudinal line thereof at or adjacent the juncture of the beam web W with the flange, a means is preferably provided for preventing such a deleterious torsional strain on the flange. As particularly disclosed, the latter means generally comprises the provision of a strut member which extends obliquely downwardly from an outer (overhanging) portion of the beam-mounted base plate 13 of the element 11 for supporting engagement with a lower portion of the beam.

In the present structure, a trough-like member "18 is fixed at flanges 19 thereof to and beneath the portion of the base plate 13 beyond the plate portion which is engageable upon a beam flange F-ll, and rockably journals between a cylindrically concave portion of its trough and the mounting plate apivot pin 20 from which a strut member 21 radially extends for its operative engagement between the pin 19 and the opposed inside corner D defined between the lower flange F-2 and the web W of the mounting beam B, while the hook end portion of the base plate 13 engages fiat against the upper flange F-l of the beam and the hook 14 of said beam portion engages therein the edge of said flange at the opposite side of the beam web W from the beam corner D engaged by the strut 21.

As particularly shown, the strut member 21 comprises a bolt having an end portion 22 threadedly engaged in the pin 29 intermediately of its length, and having its head portion 23 fittedly engageable in the opposed lower beam corner D, it being understood that the threaded engagement of the strut 21 in the hinge pin 20 provides for an adjustment of the effective length of the strut for fitting the strut to different beams B which, in practice, may have slightly diiferent cross-section dimensions even though they may be of the same rated sizes. Also, the pin-carrying member 18 is provided with a radial opening 24 for the free extension of the strut 21 therefrom, said opening preferably comprising a circumferential slot of appropriate length to provide for any necessary swinging adjustment of the strut with the pin during an operative fitting of the strut between a base element 11 and a beam supporting it.

While a strut to be utilized as the present strut 21 of a unit might be of fixed eifective length and extend fixedly from a supporting base element 11 for its operative engagement with solely the web portion of a beam supporting the base element 11, the present provision of the hingedly attached strut 21 of adjustable length is advantageous in that it assures an accurate fitting of the base element to a particular beam with which it is to be used, and therefore protects the beam against an undue torsional twisting effect by reason of the loadsupporting function of an unbraced element 11 which is supporting a load laterally of the beam.

It will now be noted that the base plate 13 of each element 11 is provided along its parallel side edges with upstanding flanges 26 having mutually inturned and coplanar outer extensions 27 which are cooperative with the top face of the flat portion 15 of the base plate 13 to provide like uniform and mutually opposed side grooves 28 extending for the length of the plate, and it is to be further noted that the pillow blocks 12 are preferably provided with base structures which are rectangular in plan, and are arranged for the sliding engagement of opposite base edge portions thereof in and between the guideway 23-28 jointly provided by and between the grooves 28 and above the portion 15, whereby a pillow block 12 so mounted on the portion 15 of the plate 13 may be adjustably located along the mounting plate 13 solely longitudinally thereof.

Referring now to the specific structure and use installation of a pillow-block element 12, it will be noted that a present block 12 essentially comprises an inverted V-bend portion having angularly-related fiat outer side parts 32 extending from a more-or-less acute work-engaging top edge 33 to, and coterminous with, oppositely directed and mutually coplanar outwardly-directed flanges 3 4 which cooperatively provide a rectangular base for the block, with the support edge 33 parallel to the outer edges of the base flanges 34. Preferably, and as shown, the length of the base-providing flanges is the same as 'the distance between their oppositely-directed and mutual- 1y parallel outer edges, whereby the outer flange edges and ends of the base jointly define the outline of a square base 34-34 having sides of like and slightly less length than the mutual spacing of the base flanges 26. Also the lengths of the sides 32 of the block portion 31 are less than the lengths of the coplanar base flanges 34 by an amount which permits the simultaneous engagement of the extendingflange end portions in the opposed guideway grooves 28. In this manner, the square base 3434 is alternatively engageable in the guideway defined by the element 11 to dispose the top edge 33 of the block either longitudinally of or transversely across the supporting base plate 13.

Means are preferably provided for normally and releasably maintaining a pillow block 12 in unitary association with a mounting base element 11. Accordingly, and as particularly shown in FIGURE 6, an upwardly-extending stop pin 36 may be fixed in the base plate 13 adjacent its end at the hook extension 14 and in line with a groove 16, while an upwardly-extending springloaded detent pin 37 may be provided at the other plate end in line with a groove 16, whereby the pins 36 and 37 may retain the base of a block 12 between them to a secure the block in unitary but shiftable relation to the base element 11. As particularly shown, the detent pin 37 is carried by a leaf spring 38 fixed to the under side of the plate 13, as at a flange 19 of the strut-mounting member 18, and normally extending freely through an opening 39 in said plate in an arrangement such that a downward manual flexing of the spring 38 will inoperatively dispose the pin 37 to provide for the mounting or dismounting of the block with respect to the element 11. In this manner, an assembly of a block 12 with the base element it is arranged to be handled as aunit for its carrying by and from its book end 14 as a handle, while providing for a release of the block for its ninety degree adjustment with respect to the element 11.

Although a present pillow block 12 is disclosed as being shapeable of sheet material, it will be understood that the same may be of a cast or other formation, pro vided only that the block base portion has the size and form shown to provide for its adjustable engagement in and along the cooperative guideway portions provided by the grooves 28. Furthermore, pillow blocks of ditferent heights but having bases corresponding to the base 34-34 of the block 12 for interchangeable use with the base elements Ill may advantageously be provided, such a block 12' of greater height than a block 12 being 1 illustrated in FIGURE 3 and having a support edge 33' at the top of intersecting sides 32' extending from a square planar base provided by side flanges 34. It will thus be noted that the base elements 11 of the attachments 9 are arranged for their mutually independent mounting in variable mutual relation on beams B of a lift head BCB of the present type whereby the work-supporting engagement of appropriately positioned. blocks 12 thereon may be adjustably varied laterally of the supporting beams while the base elements are independently adjustable along the beams; in this manner, the support edges of the mounted blocks may be appropriately related with reference to each vehicle point to be supportedly engaged by a block.

More specifically, and as indicated in FIGURE 1, Iongitudinal side frame members L of a vehicle may be supported upon the upper support edges 33 of a pair of like support blocks 12 having said edges thereof extending in parallel relation to the mounting base elements 11 which are disposed to extend oppositely from the difierent mounting beams B, whereby the blocks are adjustable to simultaneously engage opposite frame members L of wider frames. On the other hand, either or both of the cooperative base elements 11 may be directed inwardly of the carrying beams for their supporting engagement beneath the side frame members of appreciably narrower vehicles. Alternatively, and as is indicated in FIGURE 2, blocks 12 may be disposed in mounted base elements 11 with their support edges 33 extending in parallel relation to a supporting beam B for supportingly engaging transverse members T of a chassis, it being noted that a member T might comprise an axle bar carrying the dirigible wheels of a motor vehicle or an axle-housing carrying a drive axle of the vehicle. Accordingly, it will be understood that a vehicle lift having a head of the illustrated type may be universally usable with vehicles having underframes of different sizes and/or arrangements merely by providing for the lift an appropriate number of the unitary attachments 1112 having base elements 11 mounting pillow blocks 12 of like or different height for their cooperative supporting engagement with appropriate vehicle chassis members L or T, with the pillow blocks provided and utilized when and where needed for their load-engaging function.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the present auto lift attachment will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have shown and described a structure and operative arrangement which I now consider to comprise a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the showings are primarily illustrative, and that such changes and developments may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a vehicle lift comprising a head providing a support rail of uniform cross-section having a horizontally disposed flat flange spanning an upright dependent web integral therewith, an elongated one-piece base element mounted directly upon and across said rail flange, means on the base element engaging the rail for a sliding guided adjustment of the element solely longitudinally along the rail flange, said means comprising terminal hook means at one end of the element receiving and slidably engaging one side edge portion of said rail flange while the other end of the element extends laterally beyond the other side edge of the flange and strut member depending from the extending portion of the base member and engaging said rail web for securing the base member against its tilting about the second flange edge, and a pillow-block member directly and adjustably carried on said base element in non-tilting relation thereto for its disposal and direct frame-supporting engagement laterally of the rail and beneath an overlying point of the vehicle chassis by and upon a lifting of the head beneath the vehicle.

2. In combination with a vehicle lift comprising a head providing a support rail of uniform I-beam cross-section having its flanges integrally connected by a web and horizontally disposed and arranged for the disposal of the beam beneath a vehicle, an elongated base element mounted directly upon and across the upper flange of said lift-head rail to extend laterally therefrom, means on the base element engaging the upper rail flange for the sliding guided adjustment of the base element solely longitudinally along the rail and including a strut member depending from the extending portion of the base member to engage the lower rail flange and the rail web at the juncture thereof for securing the base member against its tilting about the second flange edge.

3. In a vehicle lift of the type providing an elongated rail of I-beam section having its flange-connecting web upright, a vehicle frame-engaging attachment comprising an elongated base element mountable directly on and across the upper flange of said lift-head rail to extend laterally therefrom and directly carrying a pillow block arranged to supportingly engage a point of a vehicle laterally of the mounting flange, said element providing a depending hook means at one end of the element for receiving one side edge portion of the upper rail flange while the other end of the member extends laterally beyond the other side edge of that flange as a support for the pillow block, and a strut member of adjustable length depending from the extending portion of the base element and arranged for its element-supporting seating against the lower rail flange and the rail web at their juncture for bracing the base element against its tilting about the second edge of the upper flange to prevent a torsional twisting of the rail by a load on the extending element portion.

4. In combination with a vehicle lift comprising a head providing a support rail of I-bearn section having its upper flange horizontally disposed and of uniform width and having free side edges, a vehicle-engaging attachment comprising an elongated base element mounted directly on and across said upper flange of said lift-head rail in laterally extending relation thereto for its sliding guided adjustment longitudinally along the rail and comprising a depending hook means at solely one end of the element directly receiving one side edge portion of said flange in engagement with spaced points of the flange, a strut member depending from the extending portion of the mounted base element and engaging a lower rail portion for securing the base member against its tilting about the second flange edge, and a pillow-block element directly carried on and engaged with said base element in non-tilting engagement therewith and for its solely rectilinear adjustment laterally of the rail and disposable for its direct supporting engagement beneath an overlying vehicle point disposed laterally of the rail by and upon a lifting of the head beneath the vehicle.

5. The structure of claim 4 whereof the hook means and the strut member are integrally related to the base element, and the pillow-block element is of one-piece structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,975,729 Mulhollen Oct. 2, 1934 2,168,624 Musgrave Aug. 8, 1939 2,708,988 Hott May 24, 1955 2,899,020 Halstead Aug. 11, 1959 2,904,132 Haddix Sept. 15, 1959 

